Funding

Research

Our laboratory works on blood and lymphatic development, with this research being applied in clinical areas of inflammation and cancer. Much of our research uses the zebrafish model system, which offers powerful genetic and imaging approaches to provide insights into biology and disease. For example, using transgenic zebrafish where blood stem cells were marked with a Runx1 promoter-driven reporter, we demonstrated the emergence of these stem cells from the wall of the embryonic aorta. When this reporter system was used in a model of bacterial infection, a new molecular pathway was discovered that connected infection with stem cell commitment to producing emergency granulocytes. We developed a model of RUNX1-ETO leukaemia in the zebrafish and have ongoing collaborations to provide insights into the genetics of leukaemia.

A recent focus of our research is the intersection between inflammation and metabolism; a field known as immunometabolism. Many metabolic disorders have an underlying inflammatory component. For example in obesity, macrophages within adipose tissue release pro-inflammatory molecules. New work in the group has identified a gene encoding an enzyme that enables free fatty acids to be the fuel in the production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species from activated macrophages. We are applying this knowledge in disease settings.

We provided the first comprehensive atlas of an embryonic lymphatic system and have discovered a new mechanism of lymphatic development. Current research seeks to uncover the guidance cues that drive development of lymphatic networks. We have developed models of lymphatic growth relevant to cancer metastasis and to inflammatory bowel disease.

The biological platforms we have developed in inflammation and lymphatics have been applied in drug discovery. Zebrafish are ideal for this work and we have used a drug repositioning strategy to identify existing drugs with previously unknown anti-inflammatory and anti-lymphatic activities.

Emergence of blood stem cells from the ventral wall of the dorsal aorta during embryogenesis. Endothelial cells are marked red and as blood stem cells develop from these cells, runx1 (which is linked to a green reporter) is turned on and causes the cells to appear yellow.

Migration of neutrophils (marked with DsRed that is driven by the lysozyme promoter) to site of infection (green bacteria) in zebrafish head region. Bacteria ingested by neutrophils appear yellow.

Opportunities for Graduate Students

The laboratory has a strong track record in graduate student supervision, attracting students with excellent academic backgrounds, providing training in cutting-edge areas of biomedical science and assisting students in finding outstanding post-doctoral opportunities around the world. We welcome enquiries from students interested in studying with us for PhD, Masters and Honours qualifications.

Zebrafish Facility

We have a newly commissioned zebrafish facility that has recently been installed and replaces the original system built in the 1990s. The Tecniplast system has 7 extended racks operated from two life support systems linked into ~2,200 tanks. Two additional stand alone modules with 100 tanks act as nursery systems.

The facility is supported by an MPI certified Quarantine Room for the importation of zebrafish from overseas.

The facility Manager is Alhad Mahagaonkar and the Academic Director is Phil Crosier. All current users of the Facility form the Zebrafish Users Group within the Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences.